The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-25
Special Corrcspondence Of the Appcal.

IN 1885, discovered Canada by sailing
through its great gulf and up its great
river, but years before Carriers voyage the
Basque fishermen had been on the banks,
for, in 1897, Sebastian Cabot, as il is writ
ten, named those lands Baccalaos, be-
cause that in the seas thcreabouts he
found SO great multitudes Of certain great
fshes-which the inhabitants called bac-
calaos that they sometimes stayed his
ships Now, baccalaos, in original
Basque, is the word for Goldfish, and II
Cabot found this word in use among the
inhabitants Of the land, II is sure evidence
that the old Basque sailors had been there
before him. 1t is safe, therefore, to state
that Canadian fisheries are centuries older
than the discovery of the country. In
deed, the Canadians had narrow escape
from being called cod-fishers, and their
country Codfshland, for Cabot, finding it
In use all along the coast, gave the name
10 the continent rs far us he coasted It,
which was down to Chesapeake bay.
In 1917 there were fifty Spanish, French
and Portuguese vessels engaged in fishing
on the banks, and on the Sd OF August
1927, there were eleven Norman, ono
Breton and two Portuguese vessels anchored
In the Bay OF st. John alone. This was
100 years, observe, before the Pilgrims
landed ON Plymouth Rock. II Is, there
fore, $50 years since the foreign world
have sought the Canadian fishing banks
for food. and during all these years the
living treasure Of the deep has never failed,
Nature from her deep sen caves still yields
20 man provision for his wants, and feeds
his hunger with exhaustless store.
Now, the fishery question, so-called, be-
tween the United States and this country
bavery simple one, unless confused by
the ignorance or selfish ambition Of the
small politicians on either side Of the in
ternational line. The letter of the law
which defines the rights and privileges of
The American fishermen is plain and ex-
plicit, and is plainly printed and accessible
10 all who have interest in the matter. The
American fishermen have no right 10 fish
within three miles OF the shore line in
Canadian waters; nor have the Canadian
fishermen any right TO fish within three
miles Of the shore line in American waters.
Now, all this IL perfectly plain and ~ 10
II there can be no Misunderstanding Nor
can hoir~t Americans concede less than
the Canadians claim M regards the much
talked on headland question, viz: whether
the three miles limit follows along the
shore Of bays or strikes straight across
from headland 10 hcadland nj the mouth
of the bay, thus excluding the American
fishermen from the waters within
the line drawn from hoadland
20 beadland for, whether the
rule be right or wrong in itself Is not
subject 20 bc discussed in this connection,
since We Americans hold 20 the same ox-
elusive theory ~ the Canadians in respect
10 II. For, II all the waters within the |
Chesapeake bay and Massachusetts bay
are American waters, NO that no foreign
parties can oyster or fish there, then, 10y a
parity al reasoning, Americans must aloe
that all waters within the lay Of fundy,
and the Bay ~ Chalcur, md all other
Canadian waters, unless opened 10 all and
made frcc 30 Americans by treaty, are ~
exclusively Canadian, and, rs SUCH not io
be- fshcd in 10y American fishermen, un-
less by thicyish intrusion. And 10 this
NIL intelligent and honest men on either
side of the international line agree. Thus.
In default Of any treaty 10y which our
American fishermen obtain the right
W
limit and the hcadland line, they have no
right, nor shadow Of right, TO fish there
In, and should bc prohibited from NO
doing not only by Canadian authority.
but by American authority M we'll Aud
II seems n shameful thing 10 all right
minded Americans that their government
u continually, by the knayish conduct of
this or that American skipper made 10
appear M unwilling to bc honest and hon.
orable In the matter in respect 10 which
the night and the wrong are ~ clearly M.
parent No nation should abet wrong.
whether ON land on sen, whether Ina mat.
ten small or great; and In order 20 stand
In honor befor all. and wholly free from
blame, the republic. through her govern.
mont, should see 10 Il that no lAwlcss and
dishonest practices be indulgrd in by any
Class Of her citizens, either toward any
other clhss Of her citizens or aiofeign power.
The TACT that certain citizens In the state
oi Maine and In Massachusetts have votes.
and that Senator This and Congressman
That arc anxious 10 curry favor Of these
voter, IN order 10 retain their seats in Con.
grces, las nothing IN do whatever with the
great principle Of right and wrong and of
honest and honorable international con.
duct connected with this question. The
fisheries along the Canadian coast. within
ccriain line, arr Canadian, wholly and
exclusively No, and have been since Can.
ada existed. and the great nation of kin.
dfcd ancestry and aspiration 10 the south
OF her should be the last OF earthly powers
70 envy thom their Possessions, OF seek 90
benefit by them, sayc In the way VI honest
and honorable exchange.
But, Ia point VI fact, the fisheries that
are strictly Canadian. and hence not save
under treaty stipulation open 10 Amer.
cans, are not, comparatively speaking. OF
any considerable value. The chickens Of
ms Quebec province give more OF value 90
he commerce Of the two countries than
hi The fishery limits u the scacoast. The
err sent ifom Canada to the States Weld a
iaIcr money total than all the cod. the
Maddox and the mackcpl II the eastern
thore. Seen through the lens of this one
iact, how small and trivial does the whole
matter, about which q few Americans are
making such p0ther, seem. II N not,
looked NJ broadly and In the light OF actual
Acli subject OF any considerable impor.
lance 10 the States whether our fishermen
ever catch single fish In Canadian waters.
much less isit nqucstion Of such significance
~kgr become n bone Of contention between
the two countries, or supply political real
with miserable brand with Which 60 light
IN International conlagmiion. The mat.
ter has been lifted, by the clamor Of q few
partisans In the States, b. undue impor.
lance, and the good sense Of the people at
large should forbid any further loOlishncss
In the same direction, and leave Il In the
hands Of both governments 10 settle calm.
III aud lclsurely ON ZONE basis of recipro.
cal benefit. So, and 10 only, may the much
misunderstood and oyer.discussed fishery
question be finally and satisfactorily set.